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| Senator Kawu Sumaila |
The opposition senator from the New Nigeria Political Party, NNPP, stated that the governors’ opposition to local council autonomy hampers the effectiveness of the 774 local governments, the third tier of governance.
Senator Kawu Sumaila, representing Kano South Senatorial District, has praised President Bola Tinubu for taking legal action against state governors regarding the autonomy of local government councils, describing it as a necessary measure.
The opposition senator from the New Nigeria Political Party, NNPP, stated that the governors’ opposition to local council autonomy hampers the effectiveness of the 774 local governments, the third tier of governance.
President Tinubu, via the Attorney-General of the Federation, Prince Lateef Fagbemi, initiated multiple lawsuits against the 36 state governors at the Supreme Court for alleged breaches of the 1999 constitution’s stipulations on governance and the operational independence of local government councils.
Senator Kawu, who recently advocated for local government autonomy in the Senate, endorsed the federal government’s legal proceedings in a personal statement, calling it a step in the right direction.
He emphasized the timeliness of the litigation, noting the urgent need for policies that would relieve the hardships of Nigerians at the local level.
"I am pleased that Mr. President has started to follow our path to rescue our citizens by granting local governments the autonomy guaranteed by the constitution.
"The action to mandate the 36 states to grant autonomy to local governments is commendable.
"This will undoubtedly lead to progress for our citizens, especially those in rural communities.
“It will also enhance the nation’s economy by increasing our Internally Generated Revenue through the agricultural value chain and other business activities that will emerge once local governments gain autonomy,” he remarked.
However, he urged President Tinubu to address the issue of local government elections, which he sees as another impediment to grassroots progress under democratic rule.
"I would be pleased if President Tinubu could also tackle the issues impacting the conduct of local government elections in the country.
"The President should intervene to prevent politicians from corrupting the local government election processes for their selfish gains.
We all know how local government elections are managed by state governors in this country.
“From the primaries to the general election, the procedures are often manipulated by politicians for their own benefit, to the detriment of the majority,” he concluded.
